A few minutes ago I received the press release below, not yet posted at the Catholic Action League web site.

I had to read it several times because I kept saying to myself, "It can't be so!"

But, sadly, it is.

Caritas Christi, a network of six hospitals owned by Archdiocese of Boston, will soon acquire Landmark Medical Center. Landmark will continue to operate as a secular hospital, meaning abortions and sterilizations will be performed there.

Caritas Christi itself is scheduled to be acquired by Cerebus Capital Management, but that sale has not yet been approved by the Holy See and various oversight agencies.

Cardinal O'Malley has given assurances that Caritas Christi, long funded by the Catholics of Boston will remain Catholic. If the Landmark sale goes through, a "Catholic" hospital network will be funding abortion and sterilization.

Surely Cardinal O'Malley would not let that happen! That's not even a close call by anyone's standards.

On August 27th, Landmark Medical Center of Woonsocket submitted a signed asset purchase agreement to the Rhode Island Superior Court providing for its acquisition by Caritas Christi Health Care, the network of six Catholic hospitals affiliated with the Archdiocese of Boston. The Boston Globe previously reported that the merger would result in Landmark becoming a Catholic hospital. Now,

The Providence Journal reports that Landmark will remain a secular facility.

According to Landmark spokesman Bill Fischer, "The goal is to remain secular, and that's what we're aiming for," while Caritas Director of Media Relations Chris Murphy stated " Our intent is to preserve Landmark in its current form, which includes no religious affiliation."

This means that Caritas will own and operate a facility where sterilizations are performed and abortifacient contraceptive services are provided.

Approval of the sale must be granted by Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein, and the Rhode Island Department of Health. Meanwhile, approval is still pending from the Holy See, the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the acquisition of Caritas Christi by the Steward Healthcare System, the for profit subsidiary of Cerberus Capital Management.

The Catholic Action League called the decision to keep Landmark secular "further evidence that the Archdiocese of Boston has not been straightforward about the future Catholic identity of Caritas Christi Health Care."

Catholic Action League Executive Director C. J. Doyle stated: "It is morally impermissible for a Catholic health care entity to participate in contraception and sterilizations. That is gravely contrary to Catholic moral teaching and is a direct violation of the Ethical and Religious Directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops."

"More troubling however, is the lack of candor. During the 2009 controversy over a proposed joint venture between Caritas Christi and the Centene Corporation, Cardinal Sean O'Malley gave repeated assurances that Caritas would do nothing contrary to Catholic moral principles, going so far as to assert that those who suggested otherwise were 'doing a grave disservice to the Church.' Caritas was later forced to withdraw from the venture when it became apparent that it would entail abortion referrals."

"In the public discourse about the impending transfer of Caritas Christi to Cerberus, the Cardinal, the Archdiocese, and Caritas have all claimed that the hospital network's continuing Catholic identity is assured. In testimony at a public hearing on July 1st however, James Karam, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Caritas Christi stated ' I told the Cardinal that we cannot guarantee the future Catholic identity of Caritas.'"

"The retention of Landmark's secular identity is a disturbing harbinger of the likely future secularization of Caritas itself. It is now clear that what remains of the Catholic identity of Caritas Christi is being progressively abandoned, that the Archdiocese of Boston has consented to this abandonment, and that neither the Archdiocese nor Caritas is being forthright with the public and with the Catholic community about the consequences of this policy."

This has got to go. If the Landmark Center is going to do abortions, then the diocese MUST LET GO of the hospital system. Anything else puts those who run the diocese in dangerous territory, and not just in this world. I’d never make a good Canon lawyer, but if any are around, who becomes eligible for excommunication in the Boston diocese as a consequence of allowing this to happen? I know what I’ll be praying about this evening, that’s for sure.

I don’t believe Cardinal O’Malley did any eulogy for Teddy the Swimmer. He was there, and I think he took part in the Mass, but didn’t have a major role in the funeral. He says he attended, because the President was there, and he believed, as Archbishop, he should be there. I frankly wish he hadn’t even been in TOWN for the funeral, but at least he didn’t officiate at the event.

But his stature as a Cardinal was in effect an imprimatur on the acceptance of Kennedy as a faithful Catholic in accotd with the Church’s precepts.

Kennedy’s final judgment is up to God and the state of Kennedy’s soul at his death, but his life was one of sin and scandal, deceit and defamation. The Cardinal’s presence was not an encouragement for living a good life.

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